From “A1” to March Madness: The Story of UK Car Registration
On 1 January 1904, Britain changed forever. That was the day the Motor Car Act of 1903 came into force, requiring every motor vehicle on the road to carry a unique registration number. It was the dawn of a system that has shaped motoring in the UK for more than a century.
The change was born of necessity. Cars were no longer a curiosity for the wealthy few — they were becoming faster, louder, and, to many pedestrians and horse riders, far more dangerous. By registering every car, the government hoped to bring order to the roads, deter reckless driving, and hold owners to account.
The most famous plate of all, “A1”, was snapped up by Earl Russell, the brother of philosopher Bertrand Russell. Yet the oldest surviving number on record is “DY1”, issued in Hastings in November 1903, just weeks before the new rules took effect.
For decades, registrations followed regional codes, later shifting into letter-number systems that many drivers still remember fondly. But it was in 2001 that the biggest modern shake-up arrived. That year, the UK adopted the bi-annual plate system we know today, with new identifiers released in March and September.
March, once just another month, became central to car culture — sparking dealership rushes, glossy adverts, and a sense of prestige around the newest “plate.” A car registered in March 2024, for example, bears “24,” while its September counterpart shows “74.” The system is planned to continue until 2050, when yet another chapter will be written.
From the single “A1” plate to the twice-yearly scramble for the latest code, Britain’s registration system tells a story not just of cars, but of how society adapted to them. It remains a quiet but powerful symbol of order on the nation’s roads.
For those of you who fancy a nice shiny 75 plate car the sales team are taking orders right now and there’s still time to get one delivered on the first of September So don’t delay!